The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-11-17

OUTRAGEoUs-When one knows more
about some things, he can better under
stand some other things. For instance, we
have not been able to exactly appreciate
the situation of the coal miners and see
into the causes that lead to so many strikes
among them. Now we think we do. At any
rate, we know little more on the subject
than we did at first. A few days ago we
were shown by Mr.. John ID. Cooper bill
for lot Of coal he had bought through
dealer in this place. There were 4, 500
pounds, or q 4 tons in the lot. This was
steam coal and cost the purchaser 5000
delivered here. OF this amount the dealer
who sold the coal to Mr.. Cooper got SGT %,
and his commission had to come out of that
The railroad got the balance, or S74.75 for
hauling 1.-THE freight charges for trans
porting the coal from the mines some %
miles beyond Richmond to Henderson be-
ing nearly three times as much as the coal
One-fourth tons of coal only cost S211.25 cX-
elusive of freight, here, and the local
dealer gets his commission out of that
what must the poor devil who goes down
into the bowels of the earth to dig that coal
out get for his labor? Now we can better
understand the cause of the trouble, per-
haps, when we hear talk Of strikes among
the miners.
The railroads of the country are respon-
sible for many of the burdens that Cypress
Us If this is the way they are to charge
for carrying freight. When the rate of
freight is three times DIS great as an article
costs originally, that is out of all prcpor-
ton. There is neither justice nor reason
in it. And in this instance the railroads
had nothing to do but simply haul the stuff
-no handling for them to do at all-the
shippers and receivers doing the loading
and unloading. Verify, We need remedy
in some way-cOmpetition or otherwise.
<SS<s
FARMERS MEETING.-A meeting was
held by few of the representative farmers
of Vance county at the court house Tues
with the object of forming County Agri-
cultural Club, Or Farmers Alliance Mr..
j. III. Dunn was elected chairman and Cap
tain W. W. White secretary. By reques: of
the chair Mr.. Walter Bullock stated the
object of the meeting, after which Col
Burgwyn was called upon to give such in
formation as was in his possession about
the operations of the Farmers Alliance,
&c. The Colonel strongly urged the neces-
sity of organization among the farmers
and in the course of his remarks demon.
strated how this could best be done. Capt
A. l.. Steed made few remarks and ia
vored the organization of a county farmers
club at once, taking those present as the
nucleus with which to begin. Mr. S. OthC
Wilson, proprietor of the Raleigh Nurseries
being present, was invited to address the
meeting. Mr.. Wilson spoke Of the value
and importance of farmers uniting in or
CARNATIONS looking to the promotion and
protection of their interests, and said it was
his opinion, that the Farmers Alliance
needs, and he spoke from observation and
experience both.
| The meeting Tuesday was only pre-.
liminary one, and while there was not
large attendance, every township in the
county was represented, and We noticed
some of tile representative men and far
mers of Vance present, such as Col Bur
gwyn, j. Ii. Dunn, B. T. Brodie, E. Girls
som, Capt. W. w. White, R. W. Kearney
J. Ii. Ball, Capt. 4. l.. Steed. A. Ii. Ball
d. S. Marrow, John e. Morgan. Jesse
Kelly, Walter Bullock, Il. H. Royster
n. ID. Morton, w. L. Burroughs, 5. A
Green and others.
The Vance County Farmers Club wa!
organized and a committee of three, Col
Burgwyn, Capt. White and Mr. Waite
Bullock, were appointed to frame a suit
able constitution and bylaws for the gov
eminent Of the same. 1t was decided t
call general convention of farmers of til
county to meet at the court house at l
o'clock NJ, the first Saturday in December
On motion of Col. Burgwyn tie chairma
was instructed to invite Hon. John RobiI
son, Commissioner of Agriculture, and Co
L. L. Polk, editor of the Progresssrs Far
naer, to meet with them and address til
; meeting OH that occasion. 1t is expecte
that both gentlemen will he present. L.
there be big meeting of the farmers {
Vance county here the first Saturday i
uext month,